Here is the rewritten content without changing its meaning, retaining the original length, and keeping proper headings and titles:
A number of employees at the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), who are responsible for ensuring the security of elections, have been placed on administrative leave, according to a report by the Associated Press. This decision will likely impact the critical support provided to state and local election offices across the country.
As reported by the AP, citing a source familiar with the matter, 17 CISA employees who worked closely with election officials on issues such as cybersecurity, ransomware threats, and physical security have been placed on leave pending a review. Of these, 10 are regional election security specialists who were hired to bolster election security efforts ahead of the 2024 election. The review will focus on examining efforts to counter foreign interference in US elections, which have been reassigned to other staff members.
These employees, all of whom are former state or local election officials, were brought in to establish relationships with election officials across all 50 states and over 8,000 local election jurisdictions. Over the past year, they have worked closely with officials, attended conferences, and provided guidance on cybersecurity and physical security measures.
State election officials from both major parties have come out in defense of CISA’s role. Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, praised the work of CISA’s local staff, stating that they have been particularly helpful for county clerks.
“The most valuable aspect of CISA’s support has been the people they have on the ground in our state, who build direct relationships not just with us but with individual county clerks,” Adams said. “They’re teaching them and helping them check their physical security and cyber hygiene, and that’s been extremely popular.”
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, also expressed support for CISA’s work, saying, “And I hope that leaders in the federal government who claim to care about election integrity will recognize that.”
The remaining employees placed on leave are current or former members of CISA’s election security and resilience team. The review is focused on the agency’s efforts to address misinformation and disinformation, according to the AP report. The 10 regional election security specialists who worked with state and local officials were part of CISA’s field operations division.
The personnel changes come amid criticism from some Republican officials. Kristi Noem, President Donald Trump’s new homeland security secretary, stated during her Senate confirmation hearing that CISA had strayed “far off mission” and pledged to work with senators “should you wish to rein them in.”
Trump has not yet named a replacement for former CISA Director Jen Easterly. CISA officials were also absent from recent meetings of state election officials in Washington, DC.
CISA was established in 2018 during Trump’s presidency and is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure, including voting systems. Although it operates under the Department of Homeland Security, it has its own Senate-confirmed director.
Trump and his allies have criticized CISA’s efforts to counter misinformation related to the 2020 presidential election and the Covid-19 pandemic. CISA officials have stated that they did not engage in censorship but rather helped states notify social media platforms about misinformation without directing them to act.
For the 2024 election, CISA and other federal agencies have warned about foreign misinformation campaigns, including three fake videos linked to Russia that falsely suggested election misconduct in key states.
Source Link
